Android ‘Cupcake’ Update Details With Pics

There has been a lot of buzz on the internet recently about Android’s Cupcake development branch, and just when current G1 owners can expect to see some of the features on their handsets.

Whilst we aren’t any closer to knowing an exact update time frame, IntoMobile.com have managed to uncover some information on the kind of new functionality we can expect to see from future ‘over the air’ Android updates.

Here’s a rundown of what is currently being worked on:

New Local Setting Page – Gives you option to pick different locales and pick different text inputs.

New Option to view running and third party applications – An option to view running and third party applications from the normal application list. Does not provide a way to terminate them.

New windows opening/closing animation effect – a new popping effect when windows are opened/closed.

New default notepad – a very simple and ugly default notepad.

New Global Time application – not sure if it will be provided by T-Mobile but it’s just a rotating Earth and I couldn’t get it to do anything else.

New Spare Parts Application – Once again not sure if the official version will have this, but it provides a number of extra settings such as setting windows animation and transition animation speed, font size, end button behavior and etc. It also has a “display rotation” option which supposedly should allow auto-rotate base on orientation across the entire os, but it is not currently working.

New Virtual Keyboard (as seen on video -ed.)- The virtual keyboard will pop up on every edit box. I didn’t feel any haptic feedback but I am thinking that it’s just not there on the example keyboard. Because the phone does not auto-rotate (an option exists but it doesn’t work), it’s very hard to type on it. The sample keyboard also does not provide auto-corrections.

Well that’s pretty much nothing but concentrated liquid bummer. It didn’t register to me originally, but yes, a lack of auto-rotate will completely kill the usefulness of the virtual keyboard. You’d have to open the screen to use the virtual keyboard and at that point, uh… well… that’s kind of dumb, you see.

If they don’t manage to enable auto-rotate (and it’s not like it isn’t there! it works on rooted G1s, right?) in this update then what’s the point?

Are there any other improvements? Is the Messaging app optimized at all? Any performance improvements? Is the window swoopy effect going to hose my phone further?

I love my G1, but come on.

I guess I should shut up. My Sidekick LX cost me a lot more than the G1 and it wasn’t for (5?) months that there was an update that improved battery life, added video recording, and greatly improved the messaging portion of the phone.

http://www.androidtapp.com AndroidTapp.com

Is it me or does Arron’s post about the cupcake install seem made up??? :???:

It starts off… “After building/compiling the latest master branch of android (cupcake), I installed it onto my phone. Here are the obvious changes I see”

…then his answer to Michael… “Supposedly it should have all the cupcake changes mentioned on the Google site. I didn’t receive a MMS when I installed the cupcake build so I didn’t check out the option, but it should have the ability to.”

My question, if you have the imfamous Cupcake update, how can’t you confirm simple things like Video Recorder app, Stereo bluetooth or Save MMS… but conclude it should work??? :???:

All the images shown can be Photoshopped, even worse… the ones shown are useless.

– A Global Time app with globe and no time??
– One list item as notepad but you can download AK Notepad and get more features than what’s shown
– Check boxes for animations and setting
– Task Manager with 1 extra menu tab
– The QWERTY Keyboard we’ve seen around the Web a while now

The new ‘Global Time’ app was first shown in November 2007 in the first Android preview as an Open GL ES application. Does suggest these are a random collection of images and nothing to base any future updates on.

The name “cupcake” is GENIUS. Pure genius. What better way to showcase the selfish, immature, impatient, and bratty behavior of some Android users than by naming an update that has new features (at NO COST) after candy. Just makes it so much more obvious how spoiled some people are, and how overactive their sense of entitlement is when they write things like “where’s my cupcake?” and “this isn’t the cupcake I ordered!!”. You didn’t order a cupcake, nor do you deserve it, it’s a perk of buying a product from a company that’s willing to add additional features without additional charges — something that would’ve been crazy and unheard of not that long ago.

JD

If it doesn’t have video recording or improved battery life, the update is rather useless to me.

GOWSKI

Not sure why everyone is hating the virtual keyboard and the lack of auto rotate…Just because it doesn’t have auto-rotate, it doesn’t mean you can’t simply hit the “menu” button and then select “flip orientation”, like I’ve seen in various online vids for the G1. Sure, not having “auto-rotate” is a bummer, but it won’t kill it’s usefulness.

Alan

Re; Jason D, what the hell are you on about? these are features that should have been included in the first place. And i’ll bet there are more needed that won’t even be included with this update…you’re a fool if you think these are NOT entitlements. you sound like some happy idiot who accepts what they are given without question. The Android platform seems rushed to me, there are basic useabilty features that are just plain missing on this phone that other phone software makers have included for a long long time. Bells and whistles are well and good, but if you are goign to make a phone, make it a phone first and foremost, then add all the fancy stuff. You’re a google patsy, that is all.

Mylo

Multi-touch? Come on this is at the top of the list of most needed features!

Frank

“The name “cupcake” is GENIUS. Pure genius. What better way to showcase the selfish, immature, impatient, and bratty behavior of some Android users than by naming an update that has new features (at NO COST) after candy. Just makes it so much more obvious how spoiled some people are, and how overactive their sense of entitlement is when they write things like “where’s my cupcake?” and “this isn’t the cupcake I ordered!!”. You didn’t order a cupcake, nor do you deserve it, it’s a perk of buying a product from a company that’s willing to add additional features without additional charges — something that would’ve been crazy and unheard of not that long ago.”

I just want to say that your comments are well put and I would agree if it wasn’t for the fact that the whole sales pitch behind this phone was the limitless possibities including video recording and stereo bluetooth. We as consumers didn’t set the bar there remember, it was the marketing of both Google and T-Mobile that put the idea out there of this phone being a gift that keeps on giving. So yes they are free features but they were included in my expectations when I got the phone otherwise, and I’m sure I can speak for a lot of G1 buyers, we wouldn’t have gotten the phone in the first place. I’m able to be patient for this update, but It BETTER come or I will be selling my G1 on EBAY. Point Blank

http://nullwire.com Mads

There is also an Android Donut branch, so I suppose that’s the branch scheme they are using. I’ve been working with branches named after cities, disney characters, greek gods and what not..

justin

You guys are all stupid! I bought this phone knowing it was linix based and because of its opertuinity’s it has in the future. First off alll the G1 is a PDA with cell phone capabilities, that’s why its linux based. Android is a new operating system, they are still patching things. Look at microsoft window, and how shitty of an operating system it is. Look at how many security patches and service pack updates there are. And then when they get a good product they get rid of that platform. From my stand point I purchased this phone as a PDA. And it works exactly how I would want it to work! It would be nice if they get some updates that they said will be implemented in cupcake out on the market.

I’m sure they are not all bull shit. Look at the page that tells all the updates on it.the page was provided by android. Why would andoid host false anvertisement on their site. To piss people off? I don’t think so. I’m sure its complicated to get everything to work properly on this style technology. And if you have such a problem with not being able to video record. then look at other phones that can’t video record. I had a blackberry perl and that phone was a piece of garbage and erased everything on it multiple times. And it couldn’t video record.

I will wait for my cupcake update and be happy when it finally arives! And I will be laughing on how pathetic most of you are, so you can finally record a 15 second clip. I mean its a nice to have but I don’t need it. On the otherhand I do like taking pictures. So you can at least do that.

http://kansashosting.com jeremiah

If you do not like what is being offered, download the source and make your own branch. That is the promise of open source. Not unlimited free upgrades.

ryan

What about saving apps to the sd card the only way I have heard of doing that is by rooting anyone know anything

virinderpal

i just recieved an update today (february 5, 2009) but i don’t see much of difference. i don’t know if this was the cupcake update or not. i just found out today what the cupcake update was. It was the updateitself that made me go on the t-mobile forum for g1 to see what it was about. Can anybody else contact me if they what the update was about? (sbatth350@yahoo.com)

CHRiS

ii just recieved an update too today and the only thing ii see different is the voice search on the google thing or w.e

http://www.tanshin.org Brandon

The most important feature which is currently missing is the ability to condense the call log to same numbers. Currently every time a call is made/received from one number, it’s entered as separate logs: the log quickly becomes too long.

If they can have a counter to particular numbers then this would be grand.

Bflame7

Hello everyone no I’m not anyone important but I thought that I would just provide a status report for everyone reading it is April 14th currently 9:23 pm and still no cupcake I myself along with many other people are starting to become very irritated I mean we were all told that cupcake was most likely to be released in April well April is coming close to an end so I really don’t know what their problem is. I understand that good things take time but this is just ridiculous. All I know is I really want that stereo bluetooth and that on screen keyboard and if I don’t get it soon I will really consider getting another phone, that new touch screen palm OS looks nice.

PycckiiManiak

May 5th 2009 in North NJ and still no sweet treats here. What is going on??? This blog started in JANUARY, sheesh. I’m really feeling like selling my G1. N e one wants it? Lol kirillthekiller

jonathan

Hey can anyone tell me what is the damm cupcake update is please I don’t know if its one update that I received like 3months ago hit me up @ liljhony13@hotmail.com pleasee…!!!!

Ewan Fisher

Got the cupcake update this morning!
(On Charge,GPRS,Edinburgh,UK)

Seems like Google latitude is STILL disabled for us in the UK. Despite blackberry users in the UK having latitude for months.

No sign of the notepad & random sniping earth app (mentioned above).

The cupcake release has is making me think ‘vista’. Some added animations between menus and apps, different shading on backgrounds etc.

We do however have the video camera with the ability to upload direct to youtube and the on screen keyboard.

schnaido

first of,i cant comment on the cupcake update and its performance because of the simple fact that i have not seen it yet.
but something is certain,i’d like to see some inputs to the original version of the android platform.
i hope one day i can save numbers from my call log as contacts directly and for the similar numbers to stack up in a particular column rather than appear as separate logs making the list even longer.
i’d also like to see improvement in the messaging layout and menu options.
hopefully the camera improves,is smarter and the camcorder function is not as tacky as the camera which got launched with the original G1

http://jasondabrowski.blogspot.com/ Jason D

you can already save numbers from your call log as contacts directly. Long press on the number, and the option “Add to Contacts” should appear.

Not all of Atlanta. My wife got hers. But I didn’t. Hope it comes soon.

http://www.myspace.com/xx__aheartbreakbeauty bradleycottrell

Justin. Your the one that annoyed me most. the htc dream (g1) is a phone. FOOL! Not a pda with phone functions. You are all THE MOST UNGREATFUL LITTLE BRATS! If your not happy with ur htc. Get an iphone then. Then you’ll see how effing fantastic the htc is. To you people that are happy and aren’t complaining. Pat on the back for you. If someone offers you a cupcake you don’t complain about it. BEGGERS, can’t be choosers.

JayCee

Got My Android 1.5 Cupcake Update Today May 30th from LONG ISLAND NEW YORK

sara

You know what’s a bummer? I recieved the update from Tmobile like 4 days ago, and after that none of my apps would work. So i called tech support and they talked me through a restart, but it still wouldn’t work so I had to get a new phone and lost the update. So now I have a new phone and lost my chance at the update!! boo!! :(